Episode 21: Skyfalling
Ash, Brock, and Brenda are continuing on their way to Atmos City, the site of Ash's second Tenno League gym battle, and, knowing Ash, there's only one thing one his mind about now.
Ash jumps for joy. "Atmos City, here we come!"
Pikachu cheers, "Pik pikachu!"
Brock laughs and asks, "What's with the sudden burst of excitement?"
Ash says, "I've just been thinking over different battle strategies, and I know that I'm ready for this match. Nothing's going to stop me!"
Brenda comments carefully, "I may be the new trainer here, but shouldn't you be taking this a little more slowly? You don't even know what kind of Pokémon you'll be up against at that gym."
Ash shakes his head. "Whatever comes our way, I know that Pikachu and I can handle it." Pikachu nods in agreement.
Brock laughs again. "I see we're on a confidence streak then."
"You bet, and nothing will stop us!"
A voice suddenly calls out, "Hey you, watch out bellow!"
Ash, Brock, and Brenda look up to see a man and a bird Pokémon falling towards them. The man is wearing a sky blue wingsuit and goggles. He has blond hair that's flailing in the wind. The Pokémon is a large and powerful looking bird. It appears to have tremendous upper body and wing strength, as well as very large wings, and a long beak. The top of its body is blue, while the bottom is black. White stripes wrap around the point where the wings meet the body. It appears to be quite aerodynamic. The two are diving head first towards the ground.
Ash, Brock, and Brenda leap out of the way. In perfect synchronicity, the pair open their wings, do a backflip, and then land gracefully on their feet. After getting over the shock of the moment, Ash, Brock, and Brenda clap.
The man removes his goggles, and then he and the Pokémon bow, and the man says, "Thank you, thank you very much."
Brock says, "That was great, but how'd you skydive without a parachute?"
The man raises his arms, spreading the fabric under them. "This is a specially designed jumpsuit called a wingsuit. The special, super strong fabric under my arms as well as between my legs serves as the parachute. It's as close as a man can get to actually flying."
Ash says, "That's a cool Pokémon," and pulls out his Pokédex.
It says, "Orbitross, the Orbital Flyer Pokémon, and a Flying and Normal Combo Type. Thanks to their powerful wings and upper body strength, as well as high lung capacity, Orbitross are one of the only known Pokémon with the ability to fly to the edge of the atmosphere. Once up at their highest, Orbitross will travel in a low Earth orbit for long periods of time. When the time comes for them to get food, they will dive down to the surface. Does not evolve."
Brenda says, "Wow, it must make the perfect skydiving partner."
The man nods. "He sure does. Orbitross has been my partner for years. We've been on more dives together than you could imagine. By the way, the name's Skyler."
Brenda says, "I'm Brenda."
Brock adds, "And my name's Brock."
Ash introduces himself, "I'm Ash, from Pallet Town, and this is my partner Pikachu."
"Pika!"
Skyler asks, "Are you three Pokémon trainers?"
Ash nods. "You bet. We're on our way to Atmos City so I can earn my second Tenno gym badge at the gym there."
Skyler nods. "Is that so? Very interesting. Tell me Ash, have you ever participated in a skydiving battle?"
Ash shakes his head. "No, what's that?"
"Well have you ever heard of a Sky Battle?"
Ash nods. "Yeah, I actually had one back in the Kalos Region."
"A skydiving battle is a variant on the Sky Battle. You see, in such a battle both participants don wingsuits like mine here and then take a special airplane up as far as possible and then jump. Using the wingsuits, there's more than enough time to have an entire battle during the dive. The best part is that there are special wingsuits designed for Pokémon, so you don't even have to stick to Flying-Type Pokémon."
Ash looks excited. "That sounds amazing!"
Skyler nods. "It is very fun. And in fact, it is the preferred battle style of the Atmos City Gym Leader."
Ash's eyes widen. "Really?"
Brock thinks that over. "So the Atmos City Gym Leader battles while skydiving. Interesting."
Skyler suggests, "Hey, I've got an idea. Why don't you have a practice match against me? I've got my own plane that could take us up. I could go for another dive. Right Orbitross?"
"Orrrbitrossss!"
Ash smiles and looks to Pikachu. "What do you think buddy?"
Pikachu smiles back. "Pi ka!"
Ash looks back at Skyler. "Yeah, let's do it!"
Who's that Pokémon!?
It flies across the sky at Mach speeds. Removing the seal on its chest makes its internal energy go out of control.
Ash and Skyler are in a passenger hold aboard Skyler's airplane. Ash is now dressed in a red wingsuit. His Pokéballs are on a belt on the suit. Pikachu on his shoulder is also in a special Pokémon wingsuit. Skyler says, "Alright, we've almost reached the appropriate altitude." He points forward to a red light above a hatch. "Once that light turns yellow, the hatch will open. Then, once it turns green, we jump. Do you understand?"
Ash nods. "I'm ready."
"Alright then, good luck."
They both look towards the light with anticipation. Within moments the light turns yellow and the hatch opens. Ash and Skyler look to each other and nod. The light turns green and they jump. As soon as they leave the plane, they both spread their arms and legs, expanding their wing flaps and slowing their decent. Orbitross leaps out of the plane next, and flies down to Skyler. Pikachu comes last, making it to Ash. The two Pokémon take positions in front of their trainers.
Skyler shouts, "Alright Ash, you can make the first move!"
Ash grins. "Pikachu, start things off with a Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaaaa chuuuuuuu!" Pikachu launches its attack, but it doesn't even come close to hitting.
On the ground, Brock and Brenda are watching the battle on Brock's Pokéssistant. Brenda is shocked. She asks, "What just happened!? Why'd Pikachu completely miss like that!?"
Brock answers, "This battle is completely different from any one on the ground. Pikachu has no leverage while falling like that, so aiming is going to be very hard."
Back in the air, Skyler commands, "Orbitross, climb into the sky and use Aerial Ace!" Orbitross flaps its wings, causing it quickly ascend, and then moves into a diving position. The decreased drag of its position causes it fall fast as it goes into its attack.
Ash shouts, "Pikachu, hit it with Iron Tail as it comes at you!"
Pikachu attempts to swing its tail upwards, but lacks the maneuverability to do so, and Orbitross' attack is much too fast. It makes contact. Pikachu's body goes limp as it feints.
Brenda gasps, "How did Pikachu lose so quickly?"
Brock says, "Skyler has obviously mastered the art of skydiving battles. By having his Orbitross go up before launching its attack, it's able to add the speed of its fall to the speed of its normal Aerial Ace, creating a truly devastating attack."
Ash grunts at his loss of Pikachu. He manages to move forward and grab Pikachu. He uses a clip to connect Pikachu his back. Pikachu slightly regains consciousness and gives an apologetic, "Pik…"
Ash says, "Don't worry about it Pikachu, you've never done this before. It's not your fault."
Skyler shouts to Ash, "Neither of you should be upset, a skydiving battle can be hard to master. Now Ash, who's your next Pokémon?"
Ash pulls a Pokéball off his belt. He's about to throw it, but then thinks better about it. He just holds it out and says, "Turcell, I choose you!"
Turcell emerges from its Pokéball. Wrapped around its shell is another wingsuit, this one designed for Turcell's unique shape and quadrupedal form. "Turcell!" It takes a moment to curiously take in its surroundings. "Cell?"
Ash shouts, "I know you can do this Turcell! Let's use your Ember!"
"Tur cell!" Turcell releases several embers worth of the attack, but they fizzle out due to the upwards wind. "Tur!?"
Skyler commands, "Orbitross, move in for a Wing Attack!" Orbitross flies straight at Turcell with glowing wings.
Ash counters, "Turcell, Withdraw!" Turcell falls into its shell, which instantly causes it to fall faster with decreased drag, dodging Orbitross' attack. "Great, now get back out and use Molten Slag upwards!" Turcell attacks with its globule of molten material straight up, which Orbitross falls into.
Skyler compliments, "A fine combination Ash, that's how you have a skydiving battle! Let's show him our next move Orbitross, Drill Peck!" Orbitross turns towards Turcell and dives, spinning its body, causing its beak to glow. Turcell is unable to dodge in time.
"Quickly Turcell, Rapid Spin!" Turcell pulls into its shell again and attempts to slam into Orbitross, but completely misses.
"Let's finish this Orbitross, Aerial Ace!" Orbitross climbs up higher once more, and then goes in for the dive.
"Quickly Turcell, Withdraw!" Turcell stays in its shell as it is hit by Orbitross' attack. Turcell then reemerges from its shell. It's been knocked out. Ash grimaces, and then returns Turcell to its Pokéball. He returns the ball to his belt and grabs another.
Skyler states, "You are down to your last Pokémon, do you think that you can turn the tide of this battle?"
Ash nods. "I know that I can. Go, Apprentichick!"
"Apprentiiii!" Unlike Ash's other Pokémon, Apprentichick wears no wingsuit, as it has wings of its own. It quickly matches the speed of its fall with that of Ash's.
"So you have a flying Pokémon of your own? This battle should be intriguing. Let's go for a Wing Attack Orbitross."
Ash shouts, "Counter with your own Wing Attack Apprentichick!"
The Pokémon fly at each other with wings glowing. They hit center field, wings colliding, and then flying past each other.
Both trainers shout, "Keep it up!" The two bird Pokémon continue to fly towards each other, trading blows.
It's Golurk!
Team Rocket is in their Meowth balloon, surveying their surroundings with binoculars. James instructs, "Keep your eyes peeled you two, you never know when a Twerp will pop up out of nowhere."
They all look off to the left, when suddenly Ash, Pikachu, Skyler, Apprentichick, and Orbitross fall right past their field of vision. Team Rocket all throw their binoculars into the air, scream in terror, and run around in circles.
Jessie screams, "Ah, it's raining Twerps!"
Meowth shouts, "It's a sign, the end times are here!"
James shouts, "Horde your resources and take cover! It's the end of the world!"
Wobbuffet and Mime Jr. join in the mayhem. "Wobba wobba!"
"Mime mime!"
The five all bump into each other and fall to the floor of the balloon. They look at each other and then realize the absurdity of what they were just shouting. Jessie quickly stands up, grabs her binoculars, and looks with them down. "The Twerp seems to be battling while skydiving."
Meowth joins her in looking. "That gives me an idea…"
Ash and Skyler seem to have fallen past Team Rocket without even noticing their presence. The two bird Pokémon continue to exchange Wing Attacks. Skyler states, "It would seem we have come to a standstill. It's time to speed things up. Alright Orbitross, you know what to do! Aerial Ace!"
"Orbitrossssssss!" Orbitross climbs into the air.
Ash thinks, Alright, here it comes again. I tried to defend against it with Turcell, but that didn't help. Maybe I should try the opposite. He commands, "Fly straight up towards it and Talon Grapple to stop it!"
"Apprentiiiiii!" Apprentichick and Orbitross fly straight at each other, Orbitross diving down, Apprentichick brandishing its talons upwards.
"Orbittttt!"
"Aprentiiiiii!"
The two Pokémon meet. Apprentichick attempts to reach for Orbitross' wings with its talons, but Orbitross moves just enough to avoid them. Attempting to salvage the situation, Apprentichick jabs its talons at Orbitross' body, but it's not fast enough. Orbitross manages to make contact first. Orbitross' attack defeats Apprentichick.
Ash is disgruntled. He wordlessly returns Apprentichick.
Skyler looks down. The ground is nearing. He says, "Alright, we finished just in time. Prepare to land, do exactly as I instructed." Ash nods.
The two spread their arms and legs as far as possible, increasing the surface area of their wingsuits. They begin to slow down.
On the ground, Brenda points up, "Hey look, here they come!"
Brock and Brenda watch as the two slow their descent and glide to the ground. When they're getting close to landing, a giant bug catching net suddenly swoops in and catches them.
Brock gasps. "What just happened!?"
The net is connected to the bottom of Team Rocket's balloon. Jessie declares, "Prepare for trouble from the sky!"
James continues, "Make it double, we can fly!"
"To soar in the skies with dedication!"
"To rule the world with aviation!"
"To fly around as free as a Pidove!"
"To extend our reach to the skies above!"
"Ascending Jessie!"
"Soaring James!"
"Team Rocket flies into the air at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now or prepare for flight!"
"Meowth, that's a sky high right!"
"Wobbuffet!"
"Mime mime!"
Ash shouts, "Team Rocket, let us out!"
Jessie answers, "Now why would we ever do that?"
James declares, "Face it Twerp, we have you right where we want you."
Brenda shouts, "Don't worry Ash, we'll free you! Go, Glitterfly!"
Brock throws a Pokéball too. "Go, Blissey!"
"Glitterfly, use Solar Beam!"
"Blissey, use Egg Bomb!"
The two Pokémon launch their attacks at Team Rocket, but they have managed to move their balloon high enough to get out of range.
Meowth taunts, "Ha ha! You can't reach us!"
James urges, "Now hurry, let's get out of here while we still can!" They balloon starts to move away.
Ash, Pikachu, Skyler, and Orbitross are still stuck underneath Team Rocket's balloon in the oversized net. Ash shouts to Team Rocket, "We will escape!"
Team Rocket laughs. Jessie shouts, "In case you've forgotten, even if you do escape, we're hundreds of feet above the ground! There is no escape!"
Ash and Skyler look at each other. Skyler whispers, "They seem to have forgotten that we're wearing suits meant for skydiving. We can make it back down."
Ash whispers back, "We've just got to figure out a way from this net."
Skyler asks, "Ash, does your Apprentichick know Gust?"
Ash nods. "Yeah."
"Alright. Do you think that it might be up for some flying?"
Ash removes his Pokéball. "Yeah, it should have had enough chance to get some rest."
"Good. Let it out of its Pokéball and have it get below us and use Gust straight up."
Ash nods and then reaches his arm out through a hole in the net. He whispers, "Go Apprentichick." Apprentichick emerges. Ash explains Skyler's instructions to it.
Apprentichick nods. It flies straight down and then uses Gust. Ash, Skyler, and Orbitross spread their wings. The Gust from blows them upwards, and then actually turns the net inside out. They fly out.
Back in the balloon's basket, Jessie is saying, "Now that we have Pikachu and that powerful Orbitross, The Boss will reward us for sure!"
Meowth nods. "No doubt about it."
James, who is facing towards Jessie and Meowth has shock cross his face as he sees something behind them. He point nervously.
Meowth asks, "What is…" They turn around and see Ash and Skyler rising above them. Ash smiles and waves. Orbitross is seen below Skyler, boosting him upwards with Gust, just as Apprentichick does for Ash.
Ash looks at Pikachu, now looking recovered from its battle, on his shoulder and asks, "Would you care to do the honors Pikachu?"
Pikachu nods. "Pik." Pikachu leaps into the balloons basket.
James shouts, "Quickly, catch it!"
Jessie, James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet all leap in at Pikachu at once. Pikachu leaps up, causing them to miss and fall on top of each other. Pikachu then lands on top of them and attacks. "Pikaaaaaaa chuuuuuuuuuu!" Pikachu's Thunderbolt shocks Team Rocket and the balloon. It leaps off, and spreads the wings of its suit, in order to hover right next to Ash.
Team Rocket's balloon explodes and Team Rocket is sent flying. Jessie shouts at Meowth, "You said that this plan would work!"
Meowth shrugs. "I believe that I said it would only fail when Twerps fly."
James shouts, "The Twerps were flying!"
Meowth shrugs again, "That's where I made my mistake. Maybe I should have said when Tepig fly instead."
Jessie shouts, "With our luck, if you said that then we would have seen Tepig flying today!"
They all shout, "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"
As they disappear, "Wobbuffet!" can also be heard.
Skyler smiles at Ash. "Great job. You're really getting the hang of skydiving."
Ash smiles back. "Thank you." The two turn around and then begin to glide back towards the ground along with their Pokémon. Down below them, they see Brock and Brenda. They turn so that they can land right next to them.
Brock asks, "Ash, how'd you manage to escape?"
Ash answers, "Team Rocket seemed to not have accounted for us being able to use our wingsuits to fly."
Brenda states, "That's so cool, was it actually like you were flying?"
Ash nods. "It did feel like I was a Flying-Type." He looks at Skyler. "Now I just need to practice more before we get to Atmos City."
It's later in the day. Ash and Pikachu have changed out of their wingsuits. They appear to be ready to head back out. Ash says to Skyler, "Thanks so much for giving me that opportunity. If I had made it to the gym only to learn there what I had to do to battle, I don't know what I would've done."
Skyler replies, "It is no problem at all. In fact you did me a favor, since I love skydiving battles so much."
Ash looks up to the sky. "I'll have to think hard about a strategy I can use to better battle while skydiving. If the gym leader is anywhere near as good as you, then I'll need a lot of help."
Skyler smiles. "Something tells me you'll be able to figure it out."
Ash asks, "Why do you say that?"
Skyler continues to smile. "Let's just say that as the gym leader of the Atmos City Gym, I know which challengers have potential and which ones don't."
Ash, Brock, and Brenda are stunned. Ash asks, "Wait, are you saying that you're the gym leader!?"
Skyler nods. "You bet."
Brock asks, "Why didn't you tell us that when Ash first told you he wanted to challenge your gym?"
"If I had told you that I was a gym leader right off the bat, then you would have battled me completely differently. I wanted see how you battled first. It was a test of sorts. After seeing how strong your Pokémon are, and how resourceful you are, I know that you'll figure out a way beat me. And I can't wait."
Ash nods in agreement. "I can't wait either. I promise you that when I get to Atmos City, I'll give you an even better battle than I did today. You can count on it."
"I will. And until then, I wish you the best of luck in your training."
Ash smiles, "And I wish you the best of luck in your future dives."
Skyler turns around and walks off. Ash, Brock, and Brenda turn in the opposite direction. Brenda asks, "Ash, do you really think that you'll be able to beat him in a rematch after how badly he beat you?"
Ash nods. "I know I can. It's just going to have to set my mind to making a strategy. I know it."
Even though he lost, Ash's battle with the gym leader Skyler seems only to have boosted his confidence level. Now nearing Atmos City, it is more important than ever for Ash to come up with a strategy for success. What could said strategy be? Find out next time, as the journey continues!
To Be Continued…
